Vincenpaul-Canada the Magazine of the Society of Saint Vincent De Paul National Council of Canada Volume 36 No
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Vincenpaul-Canada the magazine of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul national council of canada Volume 36 no. 4 - winter 2010 5 loaVeS + 2 fiSh + Vincent = ? Return Adress : National Council of Canada 2463 Innes Road Ottawa, Ontario, K1B 3K3 Table of contents Penny’s Piece 3 mission international 6 The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is a lay Catholic organisation whose mission is: Spirituality 16 To live the Gospel message by serving Christ in the advocacy 18 poor with love, respect, justice and joy. twinning 22 Values Vincentian life 23 The Mission of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul council in action 26 implies that as Vincentians we: aga 2010 29 • see Christ is anyone who suffers • come together as a family • have personal contact with the poor Official publication of Society • help in all possible ways of Saint Vincent de Paul - Canada • Dépôt légal Bibliothèque national ISSNO703 6477 Agreement no. 1751697 Made with the collaboration of : Ghislaine DuNord, Josée Laforest, John Grocholski and Réal Payertte Editors : Nicole Schryburt, Ellen Schryburt Graphic Design : Caroline Gilbert Printing : Impressions Daigle Inc. Society of Saint Vincent de Paul National Council of Canada 2463 Innes Road Ottawa, Ontario, K1B 3K3 Tel. : 613-837-4363 Toll Free: 1-866-997-7787 By the hand of iconographer Fax: 613-837-7375 Donna R. Rathert, based on image Email: [email protected] at St. Peter’s Church, Phibsboro, Dublin. 2010 SuBScriPtion Please send this form and a $20 cheque to: SSVP National Council, 2463 Innes Road, Ottawa, Ontario, K1B 3K3 Name of Conference or Council: Name of President: Name of Subscriber: Address: City: Province: Postal Code: Tel.: ( ) Email: Vincenpaul Winter 2010 Penny’s Piece greetingS and BleSSingS to all! he hears the cry of the Poor It seems so strange to be already entering the third year of the ministry of administration! The time has truly flown by. One may wonder truly what is next? We have celebrated 175 years of the birth of the Society Dear brothers and sisters, we must convince ourselves in 2008; we have celebrated 160 years of the Superior that in our work, what really counts, especially today Council of Canada 2009, and now we move into when it is particularly difficult in some parts of our celebrating 350 years of St Vincent de Paul’s death. country to maintain the home visit tradition, is that our service is based on a personal contact with those As the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul we have good who suffer. It is especially significant to be in the reason to celebrate who we are! Especially when we environment where the poor feel more at ease. It is this “come together as a family”! However, “What is the glue specific intent, and none other, that led our founders to that holds us together so well?” start the tradition of home visits. The essential ingredient, or the glue, that has kept As well, never has the “one-to-one” contact realized the Society held together so well, and in full motion among us at conference meetings been so important in throughout all of these years has been the aspect of this time of economic depression. We truly need to help “personal contact with the poor” through home visits. support and feed each other’s spirituality. It becomes Our president, José Ramón Díaz-Torremocha once very difficult to try to meet needs when we know the commented that “who among us was not surprised, cupboards are getting pretty low. We need each other to upon joining the Society, to discover that home visits help us make Gospel based decisions about how we get are the conferences’ main activity?” He points out that through these times. “home visits have gained so much importance within conferences that we have made them the main activity May your conference meetings and home visits be Spirit of our Society, if not the definition of our vocation”. led and Spirit filled! However, the intent of our founders, our first Brothers, faith in action: may the radiance of your charity went much beyond that. In reality, the home visit was be a beaming light. nothing more in the 19th century than the easiest way Administration: we have moved into the new office/ to personally meet the poor, in their own environment, home in July and August. Much was accomplished not our own. The main purpose of our activity is, as through the efforts of Clermont, Germain, Sandra stated in our mission and values: “to have personal and myself to arrange for a number of items to be contact with the poor” and in their environment, not either moved, fixed, updated or replaced. Many local our convenient locations. Vincentians and Knights of Columbus members At the time, when our founders were inspired to create contributed time and effort into assisting us to do what the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, it was the custom was necessary, either gratis or for cost. This saved the for the poor to go ask for help in locations where Society numerous dollars. Kudos also to Nicole Fortin charitable people gathered to protect them. The young for her assistance with cleaning and decorating. She has Parisians who founded the Society wished to go further been a tower of strength in helping to get things done. and, imitating our Lord who goes to those who suffer, We have successfully rented the apartment to a very “see Christ in those who suffer”, they seek to share the nice young gentleman as well. The garage is also rented needs, the suffering and the abandonment of the poor for a nominal price to the Orlean’s Particular Council exactly where they occur, and not in the often frigid for the storage of furniture. Both of which assist in the environment of charitable institutions. As Vincentians, offsetting of costs. we wish to “personally” bring courage to the poor where they live: “at home”, thus…home visits! 3 I think that each and everyone of you can be very proud planning committee. I think we will be in very good hands of your new office/home. It is anticipated that we will for this coming AGA. Many of the recommendations have the grand opening at the board meeting in May. that were submitted are being reviewed and we are trying Pictures will then be taken for display at the AGA in to accommodate as many as we can. Congratulations to June. Danny Bourne and his team! Sandra is now on a maternity leave until next October. Ontario Regional Council Meeting - Ottawa: great to We will manage the office with Nicole and Clermont. All be with members of my own home province. Many ideas call will be forwarded to the Montreal office for Nicole shared, with much to look forward to. The commitment to handle. Clermont will visit the office twice weekly to to the work of the Society was certainly evident in all look after the mail, faxes emails etc. and to oversee any that was discussed. Advocacy is also well under way in maintenance. Ontario. on the road again Quebec Regional Council Annual Meeting – Trois- Rivières: the dedication and support in the council SEPTEMBER was truly a heartwarming experience. Well attended, Labour Day Weekend: USA AGA, St Louis Missouri and a spirit of family networking and sharing was truly – as always such an enlightening and life-giving event.. evident. Such a warm reception by the city of Trois- The same issues that face us here in Canada are also Rivières, who were also celebrating 350 years. facing our brothers and sisters in the USA. Common The launch of Saint Vincent de Paul week in the province issues as depressed economy and the cupboards getting of Quebec was an especially interesting endeavour. We pretty bare are of grave concerns. will have Jean Claude present this idea at the AGA in The one thing that I did promise myself about attending June. Perhaps it may be something to consider for all USA AGA is that I would bring additional members of Canada! with me. Attending workshops and meetings such as OCTOBER Advocacy, Education, Twinning and Youth cannot be done with one person. We should all be present and Yellowknife NWT – we held our executive meeting in strengthen the ties that bind our two Societies in these Yellowknife with the members of St. Patrick’s Conference. common interests. We were housed at the Trapper’s Lake Spirituality Centre. Many thanks to Pat Bennetto, President of Western Ontario: St Catherine’s Central Council – kind Regional Council and Gerda Groothuizen, President of invitation from Sister Maureen Boland had Fr. Joe St. Patrick’s Conference, NT. Quinn and myself attend their Mass and celebration of commissioning. Some absolutely wonderful Vincen- One of the dearest ladies we met there was Sister Mary tians doing some very hard work. So glad to have the Jo. She met us at the airport and toured us around opportunity to visit with them. Yellowknife and saw to all of our needs. What a great lady! Toronto Central Council – As you know Toronto is hosting the 2010 AGA. It was a pleasure to meet the Vincenpaul Winter 2010 I had the opportunity to speak for a couple of minutes to We should strive to reciprocate the marks of the parishioners at three Masses. confidence and kindness we receive. Certainly to explain who we were and why we were Members to form National Council Public Relations/ there, but mostly to thank them for their support to Media Committee the Conference members and their work.